Jacks, Bison split doubleheader

Daniel Telford’s three-run home run to cap a five-run fifth inning lifted South Dakota State to a 5-4 win in the opener, and North Dakota State scored three unearned runs en route to a 3-1 victory in Game 2 as the two squads split a Summit League baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

The Jackrabbits moved to 13-11 overall and 1-2 in The Summit League. NDSU ended the day 14-12 overall and 2-1 in league play.

In the opener, North Dakota State led 4-0 after four innings before the Jackrabbits put together their comeback. Nick Altavilla put the Bison on the board with a two-run single in the third inning and Tim Colwell and Kyle Kleinendorst added run-scoring singles in the fourth inning.

The Jackrabbit rally began with a walk to Tyler Shannon to led off the bottom of the fifth, followed by a base hit by Steven Autenrieth. Two batters later, Al Robbins doubled down the left-field line to score Shannon. A Daniel Marra single through the left side plated Autenrieth and set the table for Telford, the reigning Summit League Player of the week,who deposited a David Ernst pitch over the wall in right center for his second home run of the season.

Chad Hodges retired all six batters he faced over two innings, including three on strikeouts, to record his second save of the season.

Jackrabbit starter Stephen Bougher improved to 3-1 on the season as he worked the first five innings. The senior right-hander struck out six, walked three and surrendered seven hits.

Ernst struck out four and walked two in 4 2/3 innings for NDSU.

Each team finished the game with seven hits. Kleinendorst and Blake Turbak each tallied two hits for the Bison, while Robbins and Autenrieth both notched a pair of hits for SDSU.

In Game 2, the game was scoreless until three Jackrabbit errors in the top of the seventh opened the floodgates for North Dakota State. Andy Wicklund opened the frame by reaching on an error and moved to third base on an errant throw on a bunt single by Colwell. Jon Hechtner made SDSU pay with a two-run single to center field. On the throw home, Hechtner moved up to second base and was caught in a rundown on the first pitch of the next at-bat; however, shortstop Tyler Shannon’s throw to try to retire Hechtner at third base was off line, allowing Hechtner to scamper home.

SDSU got a run back in the bottom of the seventh as Robbins singled with two outs, stole second and scored on Zach Coppola’s single to right field.

Bison closer Kyle Kingsley pitched the final two innings, striking out the side in the ninth, to record his second save of the year.

NDSU starter Parker Trewin allowed only two hits and a pair of walks to go along with four strikeouts in four innings. Adam Lambrecht earned the win in relief with a three-inning stint in which he struck out two batters.

Kolton Emery was the hard-luck loser for the Jackrabbits. In six-plus innings the junior right-hander did not allow an earned run, striking out four and walking two.

Colwell notched three of NDSU’s nine hits. Paul Jacobson tallied two of the Jackrabbits’ six hits.

The two teams are scheduled to play the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.